Celia's Puppies Read Online Free PDF Page B

at Mr. Ashforth.”
    “ I was very angry,” Jacob
said.
    “ Because your fiancée was
mistreated.”
    “ More than that. While I
attempted to work with them, went out on a limb for them, they were
lying to me.”
    “ About the ownership
changes?” the detective asked.
    “ Yes. I’m sure our guys
told you but we really bent over backwards to continue our
relationship with them. I personally went way out of my way to keep
them in business. So, yes, I was angry. But I never threatened him
or his children or Mabel for that matter. I remember getting Katy’s
medicine then going out to the car. I was excited about spending
time with Jill and having a rare, free evening. I wouldn’t give up
time with Jill to harass some poor family, a friend of my mother’s
no less.”
    “ Getting a child’s
medication from the company refrigerator doesn’t exactly sound like
someone who is out of control or violent, Sergeant,” Samantha
said.
    “ They say different
things,” the detective said. “You’re saying he attacked you out of
the blue. Completely unprovoked.”
    “ I can’t speak to his
motivations,” Jacob said. “I was walking across the sidewalk and he
hit me. I didn’t see it coming. My father told me it was a twenty
pound pipe wrench but I never saw it.”
    “ That’s what the officers
say,” the detective said. “The attack is corroborated by a video
surveillance camera. Your statements differ on the events that
happened inside his office. Mr. Ashforth says he was reasonably
provoked.”
    “ Listen, the Ashforths
lied to my client for almost a year,” Samantha said. “They’re lying
now.”
    “ Is there anything you’d
like to add?” the detective looked up from his notepad to Jacob.
“Sir? Mr. Marlowe?”
    “ I’m sorry,” Jacob said.
“I don’t feel well. I had this acupuncture treatment... It seems to
have worn off.”
    “ This interview is over,
Sergeant,” Samantha said. “My client is still very ill.”
    Standing, Samantha walked to the door of the
small sitting room. Opening the door, she found Blane waiting for
Jacob. Blane helped Jacob from the room. Samantha watched them move
into a nearby bedroom.
    “ I’ll walk you out,
Sergeant,” Samantha said. “This place is like a maze. You can
easily get lost here.”
    “ I remember when it was a
burned out crack house. It was a maze then.” The detective nodded.
“Marlowe? He’s not going anywhere.”
    “ He’s not.”
    “ Just so you know. The
Ashforths have hired attorneys to sue in civil court.”
    “ The Ashforths or just
...”
    “ They seem to have
reconciled their marriage,” the detective said. “As Mr. Marlowe
said, near death brings clarity.”
    “ Or greed,” Samantha said
under her breath.
    She walked the detective to the side
entrance, then watched as he weaved his way through the paparazzi.
Shaking her head, she turned into the main Castle living room to
check on Jacob.
    “ Are you coming with us?”
Valerie asked Samantha. Valerie Waters smiled at Samantha. “We’re
going for a run in the mountains.”
    “ I don’t have anything to
wear,” Samantha said. “Plus who knows what other police might show
up? I mean I came to help Aden then...”
    “ They can wait. Jacob’s
out cold and Aden’s not here,” Valerie said.
    Samantha smiled at Valerie.
    “ What?” Valerie
asked.
    “ I’m glad you’re
here.”
    Valerie tugged on Samantha’s arm. “Wear my
clothes. You have shoes in your car – you always have shoes in your
car.”
    Samantha nodded.
    “ It’s really good to be
home. Isn’t it?” Valerie beamed at her.
    ~~~~~~~~
    Monday mid-day
     
    “ I was SO hoping to see
you today.” Lexi said to Sandy. Lexi’s slim form was balanced in a
tree pose behind the counter as she checked IDs at the gym
entrance. “Aren’t you glad I warned you away from Aden the
Awful??”
    “ I....”
    Lexi checked in a couple more gym patrons
that were standing behind Sandy.
    “ I saw in the paper that
Aden